Fertilizer-distributer



(No Model.)

. 2 Sheets- Sheet 1. E. P. LEWIS. I FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

' Patented Aug. 13

x I V N. PETERS. phm-umn m w. Washilugfnn. ac.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

E. P. LEWIS. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER Patented Aug. 13, 1889.

N. PETERS, Photo-Lithographer. Wuhingion. n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ENOCH PERRY LEWIS, OF GASTONIA, NORTH CAROLINA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,885, dated August 13,1889.

Application filed May 15, 1889. Serial N0.'3l0,826. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENooH PERRY LEWIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gastonia, in the county of Gaston and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Fertilizer-Distributer, of which the followin g is a specification.

This invention relates to fertilizer-distributers; and it has for its object to provide a machine of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

\Vith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a top view of my improved fertilizer-distributer. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line a: 00 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a rear view. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through one of the feed-spouts. Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the feed wheels or agitators.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

A designates the axle of my improved machine, which is provided with spindles C O, 011 which are journaled the supportingwheels B B.

D designates a suitably-constructed frame supported upon the axle, and between the sides of which is mounted a box or hopper E. The sides of the frame D are also provided with forwardly-extending arms F 'F, to which the shafts G are suitably attached, and which are connected by a cross-bar H, to which the whiffletree I is pivotally mounted.

J designates a shaft extending transversely through the hopper E, one of the sides of which is provided with an ordinary box or bearing for one end of the said shaft, while the other end of said shaft is j ournaled in a box K, mounted between supporting-springs L L, which are arranged in the slot M in the side of the hopper, so as to admit of the vertical movement of the said box and of the end of the shaft J, journaled therein. The end of the shaft J, which extends through the box K, is square and provided with a sliding clutch-collar M, which may be adjusted laterally upon the said shaft by means of a lever N, having a pivoted arm N engaging an annular groove 0 in the said clutch-collar, as clearly shown in the drawings hereto annexed. The front end of the lever N is pivoted to a bracket P, extending laterally from the end of the box or hopper E, and the rear end of said lever, which constitutes the handle, rests upon a bracket, to which it is confined by means of a suitable guard Q, and is adapted to engage and be retained in position by means of teeth or ratchets formed upon the said bracket. The clutch-collar M is adapted to engage a clutch S, formed upon the inner side of a pinion T, which is mounted loosely upon the outer end of the shaft J. Said pinion meshes with a spur-wheel U, which is securely attached to the inner side of the adj acent supporting-wheel B.

Suitably mounted upon the shaft J, between the sides of the hopper E, is a cylindrical drum or sleeve V, provided with right and left hand spiral flanges WV, extending from the center of said drum toward both ends of the same. Suitably mounted upon the ends of said shaft are the feed-wheels X X, each of which is composed of two plates or disks Y Y, the inner adjacent sides of which are provided with recesses Z, to accommodate the shanks or inner ends of the radiating fingers or agitators 2 2. The latter are provided with flattened bodies, as shown in the drawings, so that they may be placed either edgewise or fiatwise in the feed-wheels or disks, in'the recesses of which they may be secured by tightening the said disks together by means of nuts 3, working upon screwthreaded sections 4: of the shaft J. By this construction the fingers or agitators may be conveniently detached from the feed-wheels and adjusted in proper position for operation.

The bottom 5 of the hopper E is semi-cylindrical in shape to accommodate the spirally-flanged drum, which serves to convey the contents of the hopper toward the ends of the same. The ends of the hopper are enlarged, as shown at 6, to afford room for the feedwheels X, and the bottom of the said enlarged portions is provided with longitudinal slots 7, the width of which maybe regulated by means of slides 8, moving transversely under the bottom, and having their inner ends connected, by means of links 9, with a lever 10, which is mounted pivotally upon the bracket. 11, connecting the lower ends of the enlarged portions of the hopper. It will be seen that by manipulating the said lever the size of the slots or escape-openings in the bottom of the hopper may be conveniently adjusted and regulated.

Connected to the under sides of the feed compartments at the ends of the hopper by means of flexible tubes 13,01? leather, rubber, or other suitable material, are the feed-spouts 11-, the lower ends of which are provided with guard-plates 15, which are secured to the front sides of said spouts, and have points 15, which are curved or bent rearwardly under the openings of the said spouts, so as to form shoes or runners, which perform the double function of supporting the spouts and guiding them when they travel in the furrows pre pared for the reception of the fertilizing ma terial, and of breaking and pulverizing the latter as it escapes from. the said spouts and into the furrows. \Vhen not in use, the said spouts may be suspended by means of hooked rods 16 from the rear side of the hopper, thus ent bling the machine to travel conveniently over the ground.

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings.

The construction is simple and inexpensive, and the fertilizing material is fed positively and in an even and regular manner to the ends of the hopper, from whence it escapes through the slots, the sizes of which may be regulated as herein described. The fingers or agitators upon. the feed-wheels may be placed either sidewise or endwise, accomling to the nature of the material which is being operated upon. The o 'lerating-shaft may be conveniently thrown into or out of gear, as occasion may demand, and, owing to the construction and arrangement of the box K, in which one end of said shaft is mounted, the latter will yield in case of stones or other obstructions passing through the machine, thereby avoiding breakage of an y parts of the latter. The feed spouts, being joined flexibly to the hopper, are capable of passing over stones and other obstructions without injury, and the guard-plates at the lower ends of said spouts serve to retain them in the furrows during operation.

llaving thus described my inventioml claim and desire to secure by Letters latent- 1. In a fertilizer-distributer, the combina tion of the hopper, the transverse shaft having a spirally-flanged drum or cylinder, the feed-wheels at the ends of said shaft, the adjustable lingers or agitators mounted detachably in said feed-wheels, the slides arranged to regulate the sizes of the slots or escapeopenings in the bottom of the hopper, and

mechanism for transmitting motion to the transverse shaft from one of the supportingwheels of the machine,substantially as set forth.

2. In a fertilizer-distrilniter, the combination, with the hopper having enlargements at either end, of the transverse shaft having a drum or cylinder provided with right and left hand spiral flanges, the feed-wheels composed of disks, the adjacent faces of which are provided with radial. recesses, the flattened fingers or agitators having shanks, whereby they are adjustable in said recesses, means for tightening the said disks together, and means of transmitting motion to the transverse shaft from one of the supporting-wheels of the machine, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fertilizer-distributer, the combinationv of the hopper, a shaft arranged transversely in the same and having one end journaled in one of the sides of the hopper, a vertieally-sliding box arranged in a slot in the other side of said hopper and forming a bearing for the opposite end of the transverse shaft, springs arranged to support the said vertically-sliding box, a clutch adjustable laterally upon the outer endof the transverse shaft and adapted to eiigage a clutch upon a pinion mounted loosely upon the outer end of said shaft, and. a spur-wheel. attached to one of the supporting-wheels of the machine and meshing with said pinion, substantially as set forth.

4'. In a fertilizer-distributer, the combination of the hopper, the transverse shaft havin one end j ournaled in a vertically-movable box, the spirallydlanged feed-drum and the feed-wheels mounted upon said shaft, the enlarged co1npartn 1ents in the ends of the hopper, havinglongitiulinally-slotted bottoms, the transversely-inovable slides arranged to regulate the sizes of said slots or escape-openings, and mechanism for operating said slides and for transmitting motion to the transverse shaft from one of the supportingavheels of the machine, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a fertilizer-distributer, the combination, with the hopper and the dropping mechanism, of the feed-spouts connected flexibly to the under side of the hopper and provided at their lower ends with guard-plates having pointed ends which are bent or curved under the discharge ends of said spouts, so as to form shoes or runners, substantially as and for the purpose shown and specified.

(i. In a :t'ertilizer-distributer, the combination of the hopper having enlarged end eompartments, the transverse shaft having one end journaled in. a vertically-movable springsupported box, the spi rally-flanged feed-dru m, the feed-wheels having adjustable fingers or agitators, the slides arranged to regulate the sizes of the escape-slots in the bottoms of the compartments of the hopper, the discharge spouts connected flexibly to the under sides ITO of said compartments and provided at their In testimony that I claim the foregoing as lower ends With rearwardly-tnrned gnardmy own I have hereto affiXed my signature in plates, and mechanism for transmitting mopresence of two Witnesses.

tion to the feed-shaft from one of the sup- ENOCH PERRY LEVIS. 5 porting-Wheels of the machine, all combined Witnesses:

and operating substantially as and for the S. E. CRAIG,

purpose herein set forth. O. J. HUss. 

